Universal vise and workholder



July 16, 1940. J H. SMITH UNIVERSAL VISE AND WORKHQLDEP.

Filed Nov. 5; 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. J HUGO SMITH BY 36% WW ATTORNEYS Patented July 16, 1940 omv'ansar. VISE AND woaxnorlnaaf J Hugo Smith, Detroit, Mlcla,

Wesson Company, Detroit, Micln, a -m g tion of Michigan Application November 5, 1938, Serial 238,955 1 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a universal vise and workholder and has particularly to do with a vise ior holding work for milling machines and grinders. ,y

It is an object of the invention to provide a workholder which will permit the machining 01 a compound angle without the necessity of first grinding two guide angles. It is a iurther object of the invention to provide a vise which is extremely sturdy in structure and readily adjustable so that accurate work may be produced.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a vise which is adapted to adjustment in all planes so that any possible angle may be machined or ground and which also has a relatively low overall height so that it may be'usedon all p or friction blocks 23 which have an arcuate types of machines whether large or small. Uni -v versal vises are not new but a problem which has been met in their construction is that of provid- 7 ing a vise which is not only sturdy and not subject to vibration, but, which is also low enough to permit all types of work to be held thereby. The present invention is directed to these problems.

Features and objects of the invention, other 5 than those above mentioned, and having to do with details of construction and operation, will be further brought out in the following description and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the vise in a tilted position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the vise showing parts in cross section to bring out the details of construction.

I; Fig. 3 is a sideelevation taken at right angles to the elevation of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the invention showing the cradle of the vise in a tilted position.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the lines -5 of Fi 3.

Fig. 6 is a detailed cross section taken on the lines 8-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a partial horizontal section taken on the lines 1-1 of Fig. 2. i5 Referring to the perspective view of Fig. 1.

the vise consists generally of a base plate III, a

cradle plate H, cradle or rocker member l2 and a vise block l3. A removable handle I 4 is used for adjustment, as will be described.

50 The base plate I8, shown in .partial cross section ii. Fig. 2, is provided with oppositely positioned lug portions I5 which are adapted to be clamped to slides it or other supports by bolts H. The base plate It is provided with a circuli lar opening it which has an inwardly extending through 360 degrees.

flange IS. The cradle plate I I is a circular plate about the thickness or the base plate I 0 and has a depending circular portion adapted to be received by the opening l8 in the base plate. A

' flange portion 2| extending beyond the circular Q portion 20 rides on the flange IQ of the base plate andvreceives its support therefrom. The cradle plate ll may thus be pivoted on a vertical axis The outside edge of the cradle plate II is graduated to permit it to be 10 set at any angle with respect to the base plate. A releasable locking means is provided to lock the cradle plate II to the base plate. This consists of bolts 22 which extend verticallythrough the cradle plate into the circular recess in the II base plate. These bolts are threaded into lockedge 24 adapted to slide around the circular g riien izng I8 below the flange I9 01' the base plate,

One side of the cradle plate II is built up, as shown at 25, and the top surface of this built up portion 25 and also of the main portion of the cradle plate, is countersunk to form spaced parallel grooves or tracks 28. These countersunk 25 grooves 26 are circular in contour and are preferably formed so that a raised track portion 21 is formed in the groove.

The rocker member 12 consists of two runner portions 28 and a connecting section or cross 80 piece 29. The runner portions 28 are semi-circular in contour and each is, .provided with a groove to engage the raised track portion 21 of the groove 26. These parts are to be machined so that there will be a snug sliding fit between 35 the runners'28 and the track portions 21. Each of the inner faces of runners 28 is provided with a semi-circular groove 30 which is adapted to receive the ends of a locking bar 3|. This locking bar is supported by a bolt 22 which passes 0 through the raised portion 25 on the cradle plate. When the bolt 32 is tightened, the locking bar 3| will be drawn toward the cradle plate so that the cradle l2 will be locked in any one of its plurality of positions.

The connecting or cross'piece 29 of the cradle I2 is provided with a centrally positioned hole which is adapted to receive a stud 33, the stud being depending 1mm, and rigidly fixed in, the previously mentioned vise block I8, Fig. 2. The 50 lower end of the stud is threaded so that a bolt 84 may lock it against vertical movement. Passing transversely through the cradle 12 is a cylindrical hole which is adapted to slidably receive a bolt 38. This bolt 38 is provided with a ll rounded notch 31 through which passes the stud 33. One end of the bolt 38 is provided with threads 88 and a locking nut 38 is threaded thereon. Rotation of the locking nut 39 will cause portions of bolt 38 to bear against the stud 33 so that it becomes immovable in the cradle. This will lock the vise block IS on the top flat surface of the cradle.

The vise plate I3 is provided with a stationary jaw 40 and a movable jaw 4|, the movement of which is controlled by a screw 42 passing through a threaded piece 43 on the top of the vise block. The ends of the bolts 22 and 32, the nut 38 and the screw 42 are each provided with a polyhedral opening of the same size so that the removable crank it may be used to turn the same. From the above description, it will be evident that the vise is readily adjustable to any desired angle and is so constructed that it has a low overall height and rigid connections throughout so that vibration will be at a minimum.

What I claim is:

1. A universal vise and workholder comprising a base plate adapted to be secured to a supporting table, a cradle plate mounted on the base plate and rotatable on a vertical axis thereon, releasable means for holding the cradle plate against rotation, said cradle plate having countersunk arcuate tracks formed therein, a cradle having spaced arcuate runner portions adapted to rock in said cradle plate tracks and provided with an opening between said runners, releasable means for bearing against portions of said runners within said opening to lock said cradle in any one of a plurality of positions in said cradle plate, a vise block pivotally mounted on said cradle, releasable means for locking said vise block in any one of a-plurality of positions on said cradle, and a vise on said vise block comprising a stationary jaw member and a movable jaw member.

2. A universal vise and workholder comprising a base plate adapted to be secured to a supporting table and provided with a flanged circular center opening, a cradle plate mounted on the base plate and rotatable on a vertical axis thereon, releasable means for holding the cradle plate against rotation relative to the base plate comprising lock pieces having an arcuate edge adapted to engage the flanged opening in said base plate and a bolt extending through said cradle plate and threaded into said lock pieces, said cradle plate having countersunk arcuate grooves formed in the top surface thereof in spaced parallel relation, a cradle comprising semi-circular runner portions adapted to engage the grooves of said cradle plate and a rigid cross piece'between said runner portions, said runner portions having opposed arcuate grooves in the inner vertical surfaces thereof, a locking bar supported on said cradle plate and having ends adapted to engage the arcuate grooves in said runner portions of the cradle, means for moving the locking bar to clamp the cradle rigidly in place in any of a plurality of positions, and a vise block pivotally mounted on said cradle adapted to be locked in any of a plurality of positions on said cradle.

3. A universal vise and workholder comprising a base plate adapted to be secured to a supporting table, a cradle plate mounted on the base'plate and rotatable on a vertical axis thereon, releasable means for holding the cradle plate against rotation relative to the base plate, said cradle plate having countersunk arcuate grooves formed in the top'surface thereof in spaced parallel relation, a cradle comprising semi-circular runner portions adapted to engage the grooves of said cradle plate and a rigid crosspiece between said runner portions, said runner portions having opposed arcuate grooves in the inner vertical surfaces thereof, a locking bar supported on said cradle plate and having ends adapted to engage the arcuate grooves in said runner portions of the cradle, means for moving the locking bar to clamp the cradle rigidly in place in any of a plurality of positions, and a vise block pivotally f mounted on said cradle adapted to be locked in any of a plurality of positions on said cradle.

4. A universal vise and workholder comprising a base plate adapted to be secured to a supporting table, a cradle plate mounted on the base plate and rotatable on a vertical axis thereon, releas able means for holding the cradle plate against rotation, said cradle plate having countersunk arcuate grooves therein to form tracks, a cradle having arcuate runner portions adapted to rock in said cradle plate tracks, releasable means for locking said cradle in any one of a pluralityof 7 positions in said cradle plate, a vise block to be mounted on said cradle, a stud secured centrally to the lower face of said vise block and pivotally M 7 located in a hole in an upper surface of said cradle, a movable bolt in said cradle having a wedge-shaped portion adapted to bear against.

said stud, and means for shifting said bolt longitudinally to lock saidstud and said vise block in any one of a plurality of positions on said cradle.

5. A universal vise and workholder comprising a base plate adapted to be secured to a supporting table, a cradle plate mounted on the base plate and rotatable on a vertical axis thereon, releasable means for holding the cradle plate against rotation relative to the base plate, said cradle plate having countersunk arcuate grooves formed in the top surface thereof in spaced parallel relation, a cradle comprising semi-circular;

runner portions adapted to engage the grooves.)

tween said runner portions at the top portion of said cradle plate and a rigid cross piece be thereof, said runner portions having opposed arcuate grooves in the inner vertical surfaces thereof, a locking bar supported on said cradle plate and having ends adapted to engage the arcuate grooves in said runner portionsof the cradle, means for moving the locking bar to clamp the cradle rigidly in place in any of a plurality of positions, a vise block to be mounted on said cradle cross piece, a stud secured centrally to the lower face of said vise block and pivotally located in a hole in said cradle cross piece, a movable bolt in said cradle having a portion adapted to bear against said stud, and means for shifting said bolt longitudinally to lock said stud and said vise block in any one of a plu-' rality of positions on said cradle.

J HUGO SMITH. 

